To Kill a Mockingbird stars Gregory Peck as a Maycomb, Alabama lawyer Atticus Finch who is appointed by the courts to represent Tom Robinson during the Great Depression. Robinson is a black man accused of raping a white woman, Mayella Ewell.  She was later beaten by her father, the town drunk, Bob Ewell, after he saw her flirtation with Robinson. Bob Ewell fabricated to police that Robinson raped his daughter. The middle-aged Finch is a widow with a daughter Scout Finch and an older brother Jem. Forbidden to come to the trial, the children along with a friend named Dill sneak into the color section of courthouse to view the drama. The kids endure harsh reactions by the town’s people for their father representing a black man in the Deep South and were even physically attacked. The jury had the same racist’s motives as Finch arguably raised reasonable doubt by proving that Tom’s accusers were liars. Tom was wrongfully sent to prison and was later shot after trying to escape. Atticus Finch lost all faith in the justice system.

~ Corine Gatti